Costa Rica Independent Journey

Days

9

Price from

£1,892GBP

This independent journey, into what can only be called a tropical paradise, promises staggering natural beauty with a generous serving of wildlife and culture. You’ll have plenty of time to explore at your own pace, so do as much or as little as you want in this lush part of the world. Enjoy the culture and pace of San Jose before swapping the city for the jungle in Monteverde and the forest-lined seas of Manuel Antonio National Park. Search for sloths, birds and monkeys in the wild, and be sure to tap into the relaxed ‘pura vida’ vibe that permeates every part of life in Costa Rica.

Independent Journeys

Independent travel, without the stress. Peregrine’s Independent Journeys are a range of Peregrine's best-selling group tours, available for 1-3 people. They depart on any day and come accompanied by a Peregrine guide in each location and 24/7 support from the local Peregrine office. /journeys

Costa Rica Independent Journey

This independent journey, into what can only be called a tropical paradise, promises staggering natural beauty with a generous serving of wildlife and culture. You’ll have plenty of time to explore at your own pace, so do as much or as little as you want in this lush part of the world. Enjoy the culture and pace of San Jose before swapping the city for the jungle in Monteverde and the forest-lined seas of Manuel Antonio National Park. Search for sloths, birds and monkeys in the wild, and be sure to tap into the relaxed ‘pura vida’ vibe that permeates every part of life in Costa Rica.

Independent Journeys

Independent travel, without the stress. Peregrine’s Independent Journeys are a range of Peregrine's best-selling group tours, available for 1-3 people. They depart on any day and come accompanied by a Peregrine guide in each location and 24/7 support from the local Peregrine office. /journeys

Gallery

Itinerary

On arrival at San Jose airport you will be met and transferred to your hotel located in the heart of the city. In the evening you will meet your tour leader for a pre-tour briefing. Please bring your passport and travel insurance documents along with you. You'll be accompanied by the same leader throughout your tour.
Costa Rica’s capital sits in the centre of a lush, wide valley which has a comfortable subtropical climate. The streets of the town are laid out along a grid iron pattern, with avenidas running east to west and callés running north to south. Many of the most interesting buildings are in the region of Avenida Central – the Teatro Nacional is an elaborate confection of marble staircases, statues, frescoes and mirrors.
There are a number of interesting museums in the city; the Museo de Oro has a good collection of golden pre-Columbian figurines. The Mercado Central is the main market which dates back to 1881 – there are some good food stalls here as well as countless artefacts for sale.
Elsewhere in San Jose there are some good restaurants – you can dine out on Chinese, Indian, Italian or the more traditional variations on the theme of rice and beans.

Meals Included

An approximately four-and-a-half hour drive will take you to La Fortuna, your base for exploring the Arenal Volcano and its wild surrounds. Vulcan Arenal lay dormant for 400 years until finally erupting in 1968.
The volcano's almost perfect cone, which soars 1633 metres above sea level, has a crater 140 metres deep formed over an ancient caldera. Huddled in the shadow of the looming Vulcan Arenal the small town of La Fortuna is an ideal location from which to explore the surrounding region.
During your stay there will be time for some optional activities including a visit to the Cano Negro Wildlife Refuge, an excursion to the Arenal Volcano and Tabacon Resort Hot Springs, fishing in Lake Arenal, as well as opportunities for adventure activities such as mountain biking.
In the evening you will visit hot springs in the area, surrounded by lush foliage and naturally heated by the volcano, the springs are the perfect way to relax.

Meals Included

You will travel by minibus and boat to the cool cloud forests of Monteverde (approximately 4 hours). Your leader will take you on a walking tour through the Monteverde National Park.
In addition, you can choose from some great optional activities. There is the Skywalk, a combination of suspension bridges and platforms built in the cloud forest, that allow you to explore the forest canopy in a safe and easy manner. You can also venture away from the Monteverde Reserve to the Children's Eternal Rainforest, the first international children's rainforest in the world.
Another option is the Monteverde Butterfly Garden and the Hummingbird Gallery, a must for those with a penchant for these winged, colored jewels of the forest.
At night you can choose to enjoy a night hike in Monteverde, hiking at dusk in the forest. Some of the wildlife you might see include porcupines, toucans and other sleeping birds, owls, agoutis, coatimundis, snakes, walking sticks, tarantulas, katydids, and an array of other cool insects.
Of course, there are no guaranteed sightings, so don't expect all these creatures to be waiting just for you! Typically though this time of transition into night offers a good opportunity to view nocturnal mammals as well as diurnal animals as they prepare for night. Look out for the resplendent quetzal, one of the most elusive birds in the world.

Accommodation

Historias Lodge or similar (2 nights)

Included Activities

Monteverde - Cloud Forest hike

Optional Activities

Monteverde - Serpentarium - USD15

Monteverde - Butterfly garden and insects farm - USD30

Monteverde - Night walk - USD35

Monteverde - Coffee tour - USD30

Monteverde - Suspension bridges tour - USD35

Monteverde - Zip lining - USD45

Meals Included

It is a four to five hour drive to Manuel Antonio National Park. Situated on the Pacific Coast 132km from San Jose, the area of mangrove swamps and beaches now known as the Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio was first documented by Spanish Explorer Ponce de Leon in 1519 during his (unsuccessful) search for the Fountain of Youth.
Long, white beaches extending around the headland of Punta Catedral are set against evergreen forest backdrops that grow up right up to the high tide line. Incorporating 12 small islands scattered just off the coast where migrating whales can sometimes be observed, the park is home to 109 mammal and 184 bird species in a region of lagoons and fertile mangrove swamps.
Your time here is your own to enjoy some of Costa Rica's finest beaches or you can take to the many fine hiking trails through the tropical forest.

Accommodation

Los Almendros or similar (2 nights)

Included Activities

Manuel Antonio National Park - entrance

Optional Activities

Manuel Antonio - Surf/boogie board rental - USD10

Manuel Antonio - Mangrove tour by kayak (with lunch) - USD80

Manuel Antonio- Sunset sail - USD75

Meals Included

You will spend the morning in Manuel Antonio before returning to San Jose and your centrally located hotel. You can enjoy one last night out to celebrate the end of your journey.
The trip will come to an end on Day 9 after breakfast.

Accommodation

Hotel Plaza Real or similar (1 night)

Meals Included

Breakfast (2)

Included Activities

Meals

8 breakfasts,
1 dinner

Transport

Boat,
Minibus,
Shuttle Bus

Accommodation

Hotel (8 nights)

Included Activities

Complimentary Airport Arrival Transfer

La Fortuna - Hot springs

Monteverde - Cloud Forest hike

Manuel Antonio National Park - entrance

Meals

8 breakfasts,
1 dinner

Transport

Boat,
Minibus,
Shuttle Bus

Accommodation

Hotel (8 nights)

Included Activities

Complimentary Airport Arrival Transfer

La Fortuna - Hot springs

Monteverde - Cloud Forest hike

Manuel Antonio National Park - entrance

Days

9

Price from

£1,892GBP

This independent journey, into what can only be called a tropical paradise, promises staggering natural beauty with a generous serving of wildlife and culture. You’ll have plenty of time to explore at your own pace, so do as much or as little as you want in this lush part of the world. Enjoy the culture and pace of San Jose before swapping the city for the jungle in Monteverde and the forest-lined seas of Manuel Antonio National Park. Search for sloths, birds and monkeys in the wild, and be sure to tap into the relaxed ‘pura vida’ vibe that permeates every part of life in Costa Rica.

Independent Journeys

Independent travel, without the stress. Peregrine’s Independent Journeys are a range of Peregrine's best-selling group tours, available for 1-3 people. They depart on any day and come accompanied by a Peregrine guide in each location and 24/7 support from the local Peregrine office. /journeys

Reviews

Anne Green

We loved this tour with Peregrine. We had a wonderful and diverse experience in Costa Rica. We learnt so much about the culture, and the natural beauty of the country and were delighted with the vast wildlife we saw.
The Costa Rican people were very friendly and always happy to help.

Review submitted 18 Nov 2016

Dates & availability

Next trip departures

Jump to a departure month

Essential Trip Information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.